The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has added its weight to growing calls for transparency about the future of the Severn toll bridges. 

Labour MP Jessica Morden led a parliamentary debate urging the government to be more clear about what it will do with the river crossings once they come back under public ownership. She wanted to know whether officials planned to reduce the amount of money charged to vehicles, or remove the tolls altogether.

She added it was widely believed the bridges were being used as a 'cash cow', pointing out £135 million in VAT has been raised since the charges came into force. However, a junior transport minister claimed no decision has yet been made.

Ian Gallacher, head of policy at the FTA, commented his organisation believed tolls should be reduced to cover maintenance only. He added: "To ask users to continue to pay for infrastructure which has been paid for many times over is fundamentally wrong."

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Mark Harper claimed the tolls could be used to fund a third crossing on the river, which would be used to reduce congestion levels. This prompted criticism from other politicians, who stated this would cause a high level of resentment.